1 of 3
WORKSHOP ON
CONSUMERS, TRANSPARENCY AND THE OPEN 
INTERNET 
Comments of Commissioner Meredith A. Baker
January 19, 2010
Good afternoon.  First, I want to thank everyone for coming 
today or participating on line.  I also want to thank all those 
participating in the workshop, including especially FTC Chairman 
Leibovitz and CRTC Chairman von Finckenstein, who we are 
honored to have here today.  My thanks as well to the members of 
the Open Internet team who worked so hard to pull this event 
together.
Careful and thoughtful consideration of how our regulatory 
decisions will affect consumers is a critical part of our work at the 
Commission—and in no area is it more important than with respect 
to the Internet.  So, it is great that we are having this workshop 
today.
Last week, for example, I was lucky enough to participate in 
the workshop on Innovation and Investment in Cambridge, 
Massachusetts.  There we heard from industry representatives and 
policy experts about the various forces and considerations that 
shape the way Internet entrepreneurs and network operators 
2 of 3
interact in their use of the Internet today—and the way they would 
like to do it tomorrow.  While there was broad agreement from all 
parties on the need to keep the Internet open, there was certainly a 
divergence of views on the best way to do it.
I think transparency about Internet practices and policies will 
be an important factor in taking that discussion forward and may 
be a path to more common ground.  To me, transparency and the 
Open Internet go hand-in-hand.  The more that is known about the 
policies and practices of a particular Internet service, the better 
members of the public at large are served.  Whether a casual web 
user or a hard-core Internaut, a kid with a cool idea for a single app 
or a software developer who makes her living from launching 
“crazy”--as a witness last week put it--web-based ideas, everyone 
can benefit from more, better, clearer information about what 
happens on a particular Internet connection.
I am particularly pleased that the Commission, under 
Chairman Genachowski’s leadership, has embraced this 
philosophy and implemented a thorough and fact-driven process to 
encourage broad participation in this proceeding and to develop an 
ample record for a decision, if any, on this matter.  
3 of 3
Thanks to everyone and I look forward to your insights on 
these issues—issues that I consider to be critical for the future of 
the Internet, the successful deployment of broadband for all 
Americans, and our nation’s economy.